COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina opens SEC Tourney play Friday afternoon against Alabama as the Gamecocks (22-9) begin a quest to bring home a conference tournament title.

USC finished the SEC season in a tie for third place in the standings with Arkansas, as the Gamecocks posted a 12-6 record, marking the second-most SEC wins in a season for Carolina in its 26 seasons in the league.

Frank Martin’s team, which went 3-5 down the stretch in league play, has likely secured an at-large bid for the NCAA tournament but will face a Crimson Tide squad that is 18-13 and with a second win over the Gamecocks this season (Alabama won in Columbia in four overtimes in February) could make an argument they are just as worthy for a bid of their own.

USC is led by senior guard Sindarius Thornwell, who won the league’s top player honor from confrerence coaches earlier this week.